A CLAUDE.md is just a markdown file at the root of your repo. Copy the content below into your own project's CLAUDE.md to give your agent the same context.
npx versuz@latest install keygraphhq-shannon --kind=claude-mdcurl -o CLAUDE.md https://raw.githubusercontent.com/KeygraphHQ/shannon/HEAD/CLAUDE.md# CLAUDE.md
AI-powered penetration testing agent for defensive security analysis. Automates vulnerability assessment by combining reconnaissance tools with AI-powered code analysis.
## Commands
**Prerequisites:** Docker, AI provider credentials (`.env` for local, `shn setup` or env vars for npx)
### Dual CLI
Shannon supports two CLI modes, auto-detected based on the current working directory:
| | **npx** (`npx @keygraph/shannon`) | **Local** (`./shannon`) |
|---|---|---|
| **Install** | Zero-install via npm | Clone the repo |
| **Image** | Pulled from Docker Hub (`keygraph/shannon:latest`) | Built locally (`shannon-worker`) |
| **State** | `~/.shannon/` | Project directory |
| **Credentials** | `~/.shannon/config.toml` (via `shn setup`) or env vars | `./.env` |
| **Config** | `~/.shannon/config.toml` (via `shn setup`) | N/A |
| **Prompts** | Bundled in Docker image | Mounted from `./apps/worker/prompts/` (live-editable) |
Mode auto-detection: local mode activates when env var `SHANNON_LOCAL=1` is set by the `./shannon` entry point (`apps/cli/src/mode.ts`). Otherwise npx mode.
### npx Quick Start
```bash
# Configure credentials (interactive wizard)
npx @keygraph/shannon setup
# Or export env vars directly (non-interactive / CI)
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-key
# Run
npx @keygraph/shannon start -u <url> -r /path/to/repo
```
### Local (Development) Quick Start
```bash
# Setup
echo "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-key" > .env
# Build (auto-runs if image missing)
./shannon build
# Run
./shannon start -u <url> -r my-repo
./shannon start -u <url> -r my-repo -c ./apps/worker/configs/my-config.yaml
./shannon start -u <url> -r /any/path/to/repo
```
### Common Commands
```bash
# Setup (npx mode only — one-time credential configuration)
npx @keygraph/shannon setup
# Workspaces & Resume
./shannon start -u <url> -r my-repo -w my-audit # New named workspace
./shannon start -u <url> -r my-repo -w my-audit # Resume (same command)
./shannon workspaces # List all workspaces
# Monitor
./shannon logs <workspace> # Tail workflow log
./shannon status # Show running workers
# Temporal Web UI: http://localhost:8233
# Stop
./shannon stop # Preserves workflow data
./shannon stop --clean # Full cleanup including volumes (confirms first)
# Image management
./shannon build [--no-cache] # Local mode: build worker image
npx @keygraph/shannon uninstall # npx mode: remove ~/.shannon/ (confirms first)
# Build TypeScript (development)
pnpm run build # Build all packages via Turborepo
pnpm run check # Type-check all packages
pnpm biome # Biome lint + format + import sorting check
pnpm biome:fix # Auto-fix lint, format, and import sorting
```
**Monorepo tooling:** pnpm workspaces, Turborepo for task orchestration, Biome for linting/formatting. TypeScript compiler options shared via `tsconfig.base.json` at the root. All packages extend it, overriding only `rootDir` and `outDir`. Shared devDependencies (`typescript`, `@types/node`, `turbo`, `@biomejs/biome`) are hoisted to the root workspace.
**Options:** `-c <file>` (YAML config), `-o <path>` (output directory), `-w <name>` (named workspace; auto-resumes if exists), `--pipeline-testing` (minimal prompts, 10s retries), `--debug` (preserve worker container after exit for log inspection)
## Architecture
### Monorepo Layout
```
apps/cli/ — @keygraph/shannon (published to npm, bundled with tsdown)
apps/worker/ — @shannon/worker (private, Temporal worker + pipeline logic)
```
### CLI Package (`apps/cli/`)
Published as `@keygraph/shannon` on npm. Contains only Docker orchestration logic — no Temporal SDK, business logic, or prompts. Bundled with tsdown for single-file ESM output.
- `apps/cli/src/index.ts` — CLI dispatcher (`setup`, `start`, `stop`, `logs`, `workspaces`, `status`, `build`, `uninstall`, `info`)
- `apps/cli/src/mode.ts` — Auto-detection: local mode if `SHANNON_LOCAL=1` env var is set
- `apps/cli/src/docker.ts` — Compose lifecycle, image pull/build, ephemeral `docker run` worker spawning
- `apps/cli/src/home.ts` — State directory management (`~/.shannon/` for npx, `./` for local)
- `apps/cli/src/env.ts` — `.env` loading, TOML fallback (npx only) via `apps/cli/src/config/resolver.ts`, credential validation, env flag building
- `apps/cli/src/config/resolver.ts` — Cascading config (npx only): env vars → `~/.shannon/config.toml` (parsed with `smol-toml`)
- `apps/cli/src/config/writer.ts` — TOML serialization and secure file persistence (0o600)
- `apps/cli/src/commands/setup.ts` — Interactive TUI wizard (`@clack/prompts`) for provider credential setup (npx only)
- `apps/cli/src/paths.ts` — Repo/config path resolution (bare name → `./repos/<name>`, or any absolute/relative path)
- `apps/cli/src/commands/` — Command handlers
- `apps/cli/infra/compose.yml` — Bundled Temporal compose file for npx mode
- `apps/cli/tsdown.config.ts` — tsdown bundler config
- `shannon` — Node.js entry point (`#!/usr/bin/env node`) that delegates to `apps/cli/dist/index.mjs`
### Docker Architecture
Infra (Temporal) runs via `docker-compose.yml`. Workers are ephemeral `docker run --rm` containers, one per scan, each with a unique task queue and isolated volume mounts.
- `docker-compose.yml` — Infra only: `shannon-temporal` (port 7233/8233). Network: `shannon-net`
- `Dockerfile` — 2-stage build (builder + Chainguard Wolfi runtime). Uses pnpm. Entrypoint: `CMD ["node", "apps/worker/dist/temporal/worker.js"]`
- No `docker-compose.docker.yml` — host gateway handled via `--add-host` flag in CLI
### Worker Package (`apps/worker/`)
- `apps/worker/src/paths.ts` — Centralized path constants (`PROMPTS_DIR`, `CONFIGS_DIR`, `WORKSPACES_DIR`)
- `apps/worker/src/session-manager.ts` — Agent definitions (`AGENTS` record). Agent types in `apps/worker/src/types/agents.ts`
- `apps/worker/src/config-parser.ts` — YAML config parsing with JSON Schema validation
- `apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts` — Claude Agent SDK integration with retry logic
- `apps/worker/src/services/` — Business logic layer (Temporal-agnostic). Activities delegate here. Key: `agent-execution.ts`, `error-handling.ts`, `container.ts`
- `apps/worker/src/types/` — Consolidated types: `Result<T,E>`, `ErrorCode`, `AgentName`, `ActivityLogger`, etc.
- `apps/worker/src/utils/` — Shared utilities (file I/O, formatting, concurrency)
### Temporal Orchestration
Durable workflow orchestration with crash recovery, queryable progress, intelligent retry, and parallel execution (5 concurrent agents in vuln/exploit phases).
- `apps/worker/src/temporal/workflows.ts` — Main workflow (`pentestPipelineWorkflow`)
- `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts` — Thin wrappers — heartbeat loop, error classification, container lifecycle. Business logic delegated to `apps/worker/src/services/`
- `apps/worker/src/temporal/activity-logger.ts` — `TemporalActivityLogger` implementation of `ActivityLogger` interface
- `apps/worker/src/temporal/summary-mapper.ts` — Maps `PipelineSummary` to `WorkflowSummary`
- `apps/worker/src/temporal/worker.ts` — Combined worker + client entry point (per-invocation task queue, submits workflow, waits for result)
- `apps/worker/src/temporal/shared.ts` — Types, interfaces, query definitions
### Five-Phase Pipeline
1. **Pre-Recon** (`pre-recon`) — Source code analysis to build the architectural baseline
2. **Recon** (`recon`) — Attack surface mapping from initial findings
3. **Vulnerability Analysis** (5 parallel agents) — injection, xss, auth, authz, ssrf
4. **Exploitation** (5 parallel agents, conditional) — Exploits confirmed vulnerabilities
5. **Reporting** (`report`) — Executive-level security report
### Supporting Systems
- **Configuration** — YAML configs in `apps/worker/configs/` with JSON Schema validation (`config-schema.json`). Supports auth settings (MFA/TOTP), URL/code rule scoping (`rules.avoid`/`rules.focus`), run-scope steering (`vuln_classes`, `exploit`), free-form `rules_of_engagement`, and post-hoc `report` filters (`min_severity`, `min_confidence`, `guidance`). `code_path` avoid rules are written into `~/.claude/settings.json` `permissions.deny` (`Read`/`Edit`) once per workflow by `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts:syncCodePathDenyRules` so the SDK enforces them at the tool layer even in `bypassPermissions` mode. `vuln_classes`/`exploit` scope is locked into `session.json` on first run; resumes with a different scope fail fast (`persistOrValidateRunScope`). Credential resolution — local mode: env vars → `./.env`; npx mode: env vars → `~/.shannon/config.toml` (via `shn setup`)
- **Prompts** — Per-phase templates in `apps/worker/prompts/` with variable substitution (`{{TARGET_URL}}`, `{{CONFIG_CONTEXT}}`). Shared partials in `apps/worker/prompts/shared/` via `apps/worker/src/services/prompt-manager.ts`, including `_code-path-rules.txt` (focus/avoid `[FILE]`/`[GLOB]` routing) and `_rules-of-engagement.txt` (free-text engagement rules). When `exploit: false`, `apps/worker/src/services/findings-renderer.ts` deterministically converts each `*_exploitation_queue.json` into a `*_findings.md` for report assembly — no LLM in the loop
- **SDK Integration** — Uses `@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk` with `maxTurns: 10_000` and `bypassPermissions` mode. Adaptive thinking is enabled by default on Opus 4.6/4.7 (`supportsAdaptiveThinking` in `apps/worker/src/ai/models.ts`); disable per-scan via `CLAUDE_ADAPTIVE_THINKING=false` (env) or `core.adaptive_thinking = false` (npx TOML). Browser automation via `playwright-cli` with session isolation (`-s=<session>`). TOTP generation via `generate-totp` CLI tool. Login flow template at `apps/worker/prompts/shared/login-instructions.txt` supports form, SSO, API, and basic auth
- **Audit System** — Crash-safe append-only logging in `workspaces/{hostname}_{sessionId}/`. Tracks session metrics, per-agent logs, prompts, and deliverables. WorkflowLogger (`apps/worker/src/audit/workflow-logger.ts`) provides unified human-readable per-workflow logs, backed by LogStream (`apps/worker/src/audit/log-stream.ts`) shared stream primitive
- **Deliverables** — Saved to `deliverables/` in the target repo via the `save-deliverable` CLI script (`apps/worker/src/scripts/save-deliverable.ts`)
- **Workspaces & Resume** — Named workspaces via `-w <name>` or auto-named from URL+timestamp. Resume detects completed agents via `session.json`. `loadResumeState()` in `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts` validates deliverable existence, restores git checkpoints, and cleans up incomplete deliverables. Workspace listing via `apps/worker/src/temporal/workspaces.ts`
## Development Notes
### Adding a New Agent
1. Define agent in `apps/worker/src/session-manager.ts` (add to `AGENTS` record). `ALL_AGENTS`/`AgentName` types live in `apps/worker/src/types/agents.ts`
2. Create prompt template in `apps/worker/prompts/` (e.g., `vuln-newtype.txt`)
3. Two-layer pattern: add a thin activity wrapper in `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts` (heartbeat + error classification). `AgentExecutionService` in `apps/worker/src/services/agent-execution.ts` handles the agent lifecycle automatically via the `AGENTS` registry
4. Register activity in `apps/worker/src/temporal/workflows.ts` within the appropriate phase
### Modifying Prompts
- Variable substitution: `{{TARGET_URL}}`, `{{CONFIG_CONTEXT}}`, `{{LOGIN_INSTRUCTIONS}}`
- Shared partials in `apps/worker/prompts/shared/` included via `apps/worker/src/services/prompt-manager.ts`
- Test with `--pipeline-testing` for fast iteration
### Key Design Patterns
- **Configuration-Driven** — YAML configs with JSON Schema validation
- **Progressive Analysis** — Each phase builds on previous results
- **SDK-First** — Claude Agent SDK handles autonomous analysis
- **Modular Error Handling** — `ErrorCode` enum, `Result<T,E>` for explicit error propagation, automatic retry (3 attempts per agent)
- **Services Boundary** — Activities are thin Temporal wrappers; `apps/worker/src/services/` owns business logic, accepts `ActivityLogger`, returns `Result<T,E>`. No Temporal imports in services
- **DI Container** — Per-workflow in `apps/worker/src/services/container.ts`. `AuditSession` excluded (parallel safety)
- **Ephemeral Workers** — Each scan runs in its own `docker run --rm` container with a per-invocation task queue. Temporal routes activities by queue name, so per-scan queues ensure activities never land on a worker with the wrong repo mounted
### Security
Defensive security tool only. Use only on systems you own or have explicit permission to test.
## Code Style Guidelines
### Formatting
Biome handles formatting and linting. Run `pnpm biome:fix` to auto-fix. Config in `biome.json`: single quotes, semicolons, trailing commas, 2-space indent, 120 char line width.
### Clarity Over Brevity
- Optimize for readability, not line count — three clear lines beat one dense expression
- Use descriptive names that convey intent
- Prefer explicit logic over clever one-liners
### Structure
- Keep functions focused on a single responsibility
- Use early returns and guard clauses instead of deep nesting
- Never use nested ternary operators — use if/else or switch
- Extract complex conditions into well-named boolean variables
### TypeScript Conventions
- Use `function` keyword for top-level functions (not arrow functions)
- Explicit return type annotations on exported/top-level functions
- Prefer `readonly` for data that shouldn't be mutated
- `exactOptionalPropertyTypes` is enabled — use spread for optional props, not direct `undefined` assignment
### Avoid
- Combining multiple concerns into a single function to "save lines"
- Dense callback chains when sequential logic is clearer
- Sacrificing readability for DRY — some repetition is fine if clearer
- Abstractions for one-time operations
- Backwards-compatibility shims, deprecated wrappers, or re-exports for removed code — delete the old code, don't preserve it
### Comments
Comments must be **timeless** — no references to this conversation, refactoring history, or the AI.
**Patterns used in this codebase:**
- `/** JSDoc */` — file headers (after license) and exported functions/interfaces
- `// N. Description` — numbered sequential steps inside function bodies. Use when a
function has 3+ distinct phases where at least one isn't immediately obvious from the
code. Each step marks the start of a logical phase. Reference: `AgentExecutionService.execute`
(steps 1-9) and `injectModelIntoReport` (steps 1-5)
- `// === Section ===` — high-level dividers between groups of functions in long files,
or to label major branching/classification blocks (e.g., `// === SPENDING CAP SAFEGUARD ===`).
Not for sequential steps inside function bodies — use numbered steps for that
- `// NOTE:` / `// WARNING:` / `// IMPORTANT:` — gotchas and constraints
**Never:** obvious comments, conversation references ("as discussed"), history ("moved from X")
## Key Files
**CLI:** `shannon` (entry point), `apps/cli/src/index.ts` (dispatcher), `apps/cli/src/docker.ts` (orchestration), `apps/cli/src/mode.ts` (auto-detection)
**Entry Points:** `apps/worker/src/temporal/workflows.ts`, `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts`, `apps/worker/src/temporal/worker.ts`
**Core Logic:** `apps/worker/src/session-manager.ts`, `apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts`, `apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts` (writes `code_path` deny rules to `~/.claude/settings.json`), `apps/worker/src/config-parser.ts`, `apps/worker/src/services/` (incl. `preflight.ts`, `findings-renderer.ts`, `reporting.ts`), `apps/worker/src/audit/`
**Config:** `docker-compose.yml`, `apps/cli/infra/compose.yml`, `apps/worker/configs/`, `apps/worker/prompts/`, `tsconfig.base.json` (shared compiler options), `turbo.json`, `biome.json`
**CI/CD:** `.github/workflows/release.yml` (Docker Hub push + npm publish + GitHub release, manual dispatch)
## Package Installation
Package managers are configured with a minimum release age (7 days). Requires pnpm >= 10.16.0. If `pnpm install` fails due to a package being too new, **do not attempt to bypass it** — report the blocked package to the user and stop.
## Troubleshooting
- **"Repository not found"** — Pass a bare name (`-r my-repo`) for `./repos/my-repo`, or a path (`-r /path/to/repo`) for any directory
- **"Temporal not ready"** — Wait for health check or `docker compose logs temporal`
- **Worker not processing** — Check `docker ps --filter "name=shannon-worker-"`
- **Reset state** — `./shannon stop --clean`
- **Local apps unreachable** — Use `host.docker.internal` instead of `localhost`
- **Container permissions** — On Linux, may need `sudo` for docker commands